Tension device



V. J. GOVER TENSION DEVICE March 11, 1930.

Filgd lay 26. l98

IHI: 'III 7d 'fzcroz J. 00142:?

ATTORNEY,

Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES VICTOR J. GOVER, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT TENSION DEVICE Application filed May 26,

This invention relates to improvements in tension devices for high speed braiding machines.

The primary object of the invention resides in a tension device for placing a tension on the braid or thread as it leaves the bobbin, and which bobbin will not permit the paying out of thread therefrom until the tension or pull on the thread reaches a preletermined amount.

Another object is to provide a tension device for high speed bobbins by which the bobbin is prevented from idly spinning upon the decrease of a tension of a predetermined amount, or upon the accidental breaking of the braid or thread.

A further object is the provision of a tension device for bobbins which includes a vertically movable dog normally engaging the ratchet tooth surface on the top of the bobbin to prevent rotation of the same, which dog is under the control of suitable means by which it is lifted free of the ratchet tooth surface when the tension on the thread from the bobbin reaches a predetermined amount, the dog automatically dropping into engagement with the ratchet tooth surface upon the de crease of tension on the thread below a cer tain amount, whereby the bobbin may be in stantly stopped in case of breakage of the thread.

WVith these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel construction and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved tension device.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.

igure 3 is a top plan View.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a similar view on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral designates a bobbin bracket adapted to be removably mount- 50 ed on a braiding or like machine, having a 1928. Serial No. 280,833.

spindle 11 rising therefrom on which a bobbin 12 is turnably mounted. The bobbin may be wound with a supply of thread or braid 13 which is adapted to be unwound therefrom during the operation of'the machine of which it serves a part. The top of the bobbin is provided with an annular series of ratchet teeth 1 1 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

Cast integral with the attaching bracket or base 10 and rising therefrom, is a post or standard 15 which is elliptical in crosssection as shown in Figure 5 of the drawing, while mounted in the base and in an ear 16 at the top of the post is a rod 17. The rod 17 is disposed in spaced parallel relation with respect to the post and co-acts therewith for slidably supporting a carriage 18. The carriage is in reality only mounted on the'rod while spaced fingers 19 on the carriage embrace the sides of the post for preventing accidental turning movement of the carriage upon the rod.

A thread guide or eye 20 rises from the carriage through which the thread 13 passes after passing through an opening 21 in the post. After passing through the eye 20, the thread is carried up and passes through an opening 22 in the ear 16 from where it leads to the working parts of the machine.

Slidably mounted adjacent the top of the post is a head 23 which supports an inwardly extending dog 24, pivoted on a vertical axis to one side of the head as at 25 and which is held rigid thereagainst by a spring 26 fixedly carried by one side of the head. By pivoting the dog on a vertical axis, the same may be swung upon the release of the spring, to a position out of the vertical plane of the bobbin as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 of the drawing, to facilitate the application of and removal of the bobbin to the spindle.

Depending from the head 23 is a bar 27 i which lies close to the post and has an outwardly extending lug 28 on its lower end disposed in the path of upward movement of the carriage to be engaged thereby, while an ear 29 extends outwardly from the bar through which the rod 17 extends. An expansible spring 30 encircles the rod 17 and is interposed between the-ears" 29land :16 for normally holding the bar and head down with the dog 24.- in operative position upon the ratchet teeth of the bobbin. A second expansion spring 31 encircles the rod between the carriage 18 and a collar 32 fixed to the rod below the lowermost position of the car 29. The spring 31 acts upon the carriage to move the same down upon the bracket or base 10.

In practice, the free end of the thread or braid from the bobbin is threaded through the tension device in the manner described and shown, and as a pull is exerted thereon, the tension on the thread overcomes the tension on the spring 31, whereupon the carriage rises vertically and strikes the lug 28. Up until this time the bobbin has been locked against rotation by the dog and ratchet teeth, but as the carriage strikes the lug 28, it lifts the bar 27, head 23 and dog 24, against the action of the spring 30 so that the dog is lifted free of the plane ofthe top of the bobbin so as to be out of the path of the ratchet teeth. The dog being in a raised position as shown in dotted lines, a tension of a predetermined amount is necessary on the thread to maintain this position, at which time the thread may be evenly pulled from the bobbin. In the event that the tension on the thread should decrease by reason of slack therein, or by the breaking of the thread, the springs 30 and 31 will instantly return the parts to the position shown in full lines in the drawings, at which time the dog drops into co-acting position with the ratchet teeth and brings the bobbin to an abrupt stop to prevent the unnecessary spinning of the bobbin and the waste of thread ,or braid which would be caused thereby.

This tens-ion device is especially adapted for high speed braiding machines such as those used for braiding electric conductor wires, but, I do not wish'to limit myself thereto, as it may be used in slow speed machines .and other types of machines than the type above mentioned.

lVhile I have described What I deem to be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many of the details .may be varied without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention, and I there'- fore do not limit myself to the exact details of construction herein set forth nor to anything less than the whole of my invention limited only by the appended claims.

\V'hat I claim as new l- I Ic mb natien w t a pp iti l a ket ha n a s i d e th e n a b n .1 tatably mounted on said spindle, a series of ratchet teeth on top of said bobbinpa post risi from an .bmck t eside said bobbin, a head slidably mounted on said post, a FlQ piv te t a H ade s ieg a m vem at 9 2 the Varesepla e 9f s d 1 99b: n; 9 nch arrissl by said head ta holding said dog in the vertical plane of said bobbin for coaction with said ratchet teeth, a bar extending downwardly from said head, a fixed rod disposed parallel to said post, a carriage slidable on said rod and movable into the path of said bar to lift said dog out of engagement with said ratchet teeth, and spring means respectively acting to normally hold said dog in engagement with said ratchet teeth and said carriage in a lowered position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with a spindle having a bobbin rotatably mounted thereon, ratchet teeth provided on the top of said bobbin, a vertical slidable member, a dog pivotally mounted on said member for swinging movement beyond the verticalplane of said bobbin, and a spring catch carried by said member and engaging said dog for locking said dog against swinging movement in a vertical plane with said bobbin for co-action with said ratchet teeth.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

VICTOR J. GOVER. 

